A Bishop Lavis woman’s safe driving habits have earned her top honours and a cash prize of R100 000 through the Discovery Safe Journey to School programme.
Edlyn Manho was announced the safest driver in the programme at an awards ceremony at the Dulcie September Civic Centre in Athlone on Wednesday December 14.
She has been a school-transport driver since 2007 and joined the programme in 2016.
Being announced the winner left Ms Manho speechless, and all she could say was, “I can’t describe this feeling.”
A R50 000 cash prize went to second-place winner Jan Johannes Kruger, of Stellenbosch, and Deidré Velensky, of Grassy Park, took third place and R30 000.
Two other drivers, Selobia Petersen and Isak Damon, were acknowledged as the most-improved drivers. Ten other drivers received petrol vouchers, and the top performers for each quarter received incentives ranging from R1 000 to R3 500.
Ms Velensky, a school-transport driver for 17 years, said: “This recognition is not just personal but it extends to the whole community. It’s nice to receive incentives, but the benefits extend to more than this. None of us had any accidents. At the end of the day, it is all about the children and their well-being.”
The programme uses devices that monitor speeding, harsh cornering and braking, and cellphone usage to track driver behaviour. Drivers also undergo basic health screening and learn advanced driving and first-aid.
At the award ceremony, it was also announced that the philanthropic organisation, Afrika Tikkun, will be a new partner in the project, which will also expand into Gauteng in the first quarter of 2023.
Since the programme started in 2014, a total of 1 000 participating drivers safely transported more than 19 000 children to and from school with no fatalities or accidents involving children recorded.